Seeing Without Seeing: Hallucinations Linked to Vision Loss
A 97-year-old with age-related macular degeneration experiences vivid visual hallucinations—hallucinations that are a normal brain response to sight loss called Charles Bonnet syndrome. Brain studies link such imagery to heightened activity in visual areas when input from the eyes is reduced. Awareness and open discussion help ease anxiety and stigma, and many people experience a reduction in intensity or frequency over time.